Yanukovych announces national “day of mourning’’ on February 20

YEREVAN, February 19. / ARKA /. Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych announced a national “day of mourning’’on February 20 after at least 25 people were killed and 241 injured in fierce clashes in Kiev, RBC reported.

Yanukovych signed a decree announcing the mourning “in connection with the loss of life caused by the mass disorder’’, his office said in a statement.

The violence is the worst in nearly three months of anti-government protests that have paralysed Ukraine’s capital.

The latest bout of street violence began on Tuesday when protesters attacked police lines and set fires outside parliament, accusing Yanukovych of ignoring their demands to enact constitutional reforms that would limit president’s power - a key opposition demand.

According to Ukrainian health ministry, during the clashes in Kiev 25 people died, 241 were hospitalized, including three children under 18, 79 law enforcement officers, five journalists and one MP.

The interior ministry said ten police officers were killed and 383 others sought medical help in the ministry-run hospitals. Some 350 of them were hospitalized; 83 law enforcement officers had gunshot wounds. -0-